CNY Fishing report (for weekend of June 26-28)

Submitted photoGreg Smith, of Clay, landed this nice, 26.6-inch walleye on June 23 on Oneida Lake, trolling near buoy 119. He caught it on a Junior Thunderstick lure. He wrote: "It has been by far the best walleye season for me in quite some time."

Editor's note: Just a reminder that this Saturday and Sunday is "Free Fishing Weekend." Anyone can fish in the state and no fishing license is required.

Lake Ontario
Fishing has been more difficult in the past week with the unsettled weather. The brown trout bite has slowed but some fish are still being taken. Browns are being found deeper in 30 to 70 feet of water. Good areas have been Ford Shoals, Sythe Energy, and the Nine Mile Buoy line. Chinook salmon are still being taken but fish are scattered and more difficult to locate. Spin Doctors and Pro Troll Flashers with A-Tom-Mik flies in green or green and white are still working well, along with Northern King spoons fished in 80 to 200 feet of water.

Salmon River
The big spawning fish from the lake are all but gone, but the DEC stocked some 5,000 brown trout (8-10 inches) recently. One fly fishing angler this week reported catching a nice Atlantic salmon and a sizeable brown trout recently. Worth checking out.

Oswego River
Some walleye are still being caught on large stickbaits (Rapala, No.18), night crawlers and leeches. Smallmouth bass are hitting tube jigs and twister tails. Sheepshead are being caught throughout the river on crayfish and night crawlers. Channel catfish are also hitting throughout the river with good baits being night crawlers, cut-bait and chicken livers. Yellow perch are being taken around Wright's landing.

Oneida Lake
Walleye action remains mixed, OK one day poor the next. Fish are being found deep in 25 to 35 feet of water around soft bottom areas. Good baits are 3/8 to 5/8 oz. purple and black bucktail jigs tipped with night crawlers. Others are trolling stickbaits, such as a Thundersticks or the Challenger minnow. Good areas have been north of Buoy 109, Lakeport and Sylvan Beach area. Bass fishing remains good with fish hitting a wide variety of artificial baits with fish being found in 2 to 10 feet of water. Pickerel fishing continues to be very good in most of the lake.

Onondaga Lake
There are still a few bass on beds but most are in the post spawn. Good baits are Senkos, plastic craws, spinnerbaits and flipping jigs. Anglers making long cast and fishing real slow are having good luck. A lot of vegetation has grown up so fishing rubber frogs/rats/toads over the vegetation should help produce some of those post spawn fish.

Cayuga Lake
Lake trout action has been slow; a lot of fish are being marked in 70-100 feet of water but few are hitting. Early morning seems to be the most productive. Fishing should pick up when a thermocline develops. Catch and release bass anglers are still doing well on the north end with fish hitting spinnerbaits, jerkbaits, Senkos, plastic craws and jigs. Yellow perch are being taken in the north end in 15-20 feet of water on small minnows.

Seneca Lake
Lake trout are being caught 75 to 85 down with spoons like Sutton 66's, 77's and 88's. Plain silver has been the hot color. Anglers pulling copper are also having some luck. Northern pike are hitting live sawbellies (alewives) fished off the Pier. A couple 12 lb.- fish have been caught recently. Anglers fishing larger (bass size) minnows are getting some nice yellow perch.

Owasco Lake
Lake trout fishing has been spotty for anglers trolling and jigging in 65 to 140 feet of water in the north end. Like Cayuga, a lot of fish are being marked but few biters. A few walleyes and rainbow trout are being taken in the north end by anglers targeting lake trout. Northern pike are hitting in 10 to 15 feet of water. Smallmouth are hitting in 2 to 10 feet of water on tube baits, small jerkbaits and swim baits.

Otisco Lake
Anglers trolling are still getting a few brown trout on stickbaits and Mepp's spinners. A few tiger muskies are being caught on the north end. Walleye fishing has picked up for anglers fishing after dark from the Causeway or along the shore. Large stickbaits are working well and fish are hitting really late (or early depending on how you look at it) with the best action from midnight to 2 a.m.. Anglers using as little light as possible are having better luck. Bass fishing has remained fair for anglers targeting them.

Skaneateles Lake
Yellow perch are hitting on fathead minnows on the eastside in 20 feet of water. Some lake trout are being taken in 15 to 70 feet of water. Anglers pulling copper are also getting a few fish. Smallmouth bass continue to hit well along the shoreline out to about 10 feet on small jerkbaits and green pumpkin tube jigs. Fly guys take note: the brown drake fly hatch is still going strong.

Sandy Pond
Northern pike are hitting very well. Fishing the weedlines is producing nice pike on white or yellow spinnerbaits or large minnows. Largemouth bass are also hitting well on the spinnerbaits. A few walleyes are being taken on worm harnesses and stickbaits.

Sodus Bay
Bass fishing has been really good. They're hitting a variety of baits. Start shallow and work deeper until fish are found. Panfish are being taken along the shore, and in 8 to 10 feet of water on worms and small minnows. Northern pike are hitting on stickbaits, spoons and live minnows.

St. Lawrence River
Anglers did well over weekend on bass. Fish in shallow water. Pike were really hitting on red and white Daredevils and other spoons.

Whitney Point Reservoir
Trolling in the channel with worm harnesses in Kelley green and fire-tiger is producing good catches of walleye. It's also producing some good sized yellow perch and bonus crappies. Crappie are also being found in 7 to 10 feet of water. Catfish are hitting on the north end on cut-bait and night crawlers.